Soft ballistic shields

Abstract

A soft ballistic shield comprises a shell adapted to support at least one soft ballistic panel made from a soft ballistic material suitable for protecting a user from bodily injury from projectiles. At least one generally horizontal support is adapted to be coupled to the shell in a deployed configuration. First and second generally vertical supports are adapted to be coupled to the shell in a deployed configuration. The first and second generally vertical pockets cover a majority of the first and second generally vertical supports when housing the first and second generally vertical supports in a deployed configuration to provide a support structure for the soft ballistic shield to absorb energy from an impact of a projectile. A retainer cap is coupled to the shield and configured to be positioned over an end of the at least one elongate generally horizontal support.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers from bodily harm from projectiles comprising:
 a shell configured to support at least one ballistic panel made from a ballistic material suitable for protecting a user from bodily injury from projectiles, the shell having four sides; 
 at least four support rods, wherein two support rods are configured to be oriented in a generally vertical direction when in a deployed configuration and two of the support rods configured to be oriented in a generally horizontal direction when in a deployed configuration, the support rods adapted to form an approximately rectangular frame for supporting the shell near the four sides of the shell; 
 at least one elastic band coupled to an upper portion of the shell and adapted to secure a top one of the two support rods oriented in a generally horizontal direction to the shell in a deployed configuration; 
 first and second nearly full length rod pockets coupled to first and second side portions of the shell and oriented in a generally vertical direction when in a deployed configuration; the first and second rod pockets being adapted to secure the two support rods oriented in a generally vertical direction to the shell when in a deployed configuration, the first and second rod pockets having openings near the top portions of the pockets for insertion and removal of the two support rods; 
 a third rod pocket coupled to a lower portion of the shell and adapted to secure a bottom one of the two support rods oriented in a generally horizontal direction to the shell, the third rod pocket supporting the bottom one of the two support rods oriented in a generally horizontal direction when in a deployed configuration; 
 a generally horizontally oriented storage pocket coupled to the shell for storage of the two support rods configured to be oriented in a generally vertical direction, when not deployed in the generally vertical direction; 
 a flap coupled near a top of the shell with fasteners on the flap and on the shell to enable the shield to be secured to an object; 
 at least one handle coupled to the shell for arm carrying and holding the shield; 
 at least first and second rings attached to ends of the handle coupled to the shell; 
 a sling having a first end and a second end, each end of the sling adapted to be coupled to one of the first and second rings by a quick release connection mechanism; and 
 a front side plate pocket coupled with the shell and adapted to support a hard armor plate to protect against higher powered projectiles. 
 
     
     
       2. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers from bodily harm from projectiles of  claim 1  wherein the at least one elastic band forms at least a part of a centering mechanism comprising first and second end caps elastically coupled to a portion of the shield and configured to be removably placed over first and second ends of the at least one elongate generally horizontal support. 
     
     
       3. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers from bodily harm from projectiles of  claim 1  wherein the at least one elastic band is coupled to the shell and coupled with at least one a retainer cap configured to be positioned over an end of the at least one elongate generally horizontal support. 
     
     
       4. A shield for protection of law enforcement officers comprising:
 a shell adapted to support at least one ballistic panel made from a ballistic material suitable for protecting a user from bodily injury from projectiles, the shell having a stored configuration and at least first and second deployed configurations; 
 at least one elongate generally horizontal support associated with the shell made from a semi-rigid material and capable of supporting the shell to absorb the impact of a projectile; 
 at least two elongate generally vertical supports constructed of a semi-rigid material and capable of supporting the shell to absorb the impact of a projectile; and 
 at least two generally vertical pockets coupled to the shell that house the at least two generally vertical supports in the deployed configurations, wherein the generally vertical pockets provide support to the shell when the generally vertical supports are housed inside the generally vertical pockets; 
 at least one pocket coupled to the shell adapted to store the at least two elongate generally vertical supports when the shell is in the stored configuration; 
 a foldable shield portion coupled to a lower portion of the shell, the foldable shield portion being adapted to be folded up in the first deployed configuration to provide a shield of a first length, and the foldable shield portion being adapted to be unfolded in the second deployed configuration to provide a shield of a second length, the second length being greater than the first length; and 
 a centering mechanism comprising first and second end caps elastically coupled to a portion of the shield and configured to be removably placed over first and second ends of the at least one elongate generally horizontal support. 
 
     
     
       5. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  wherein the first and second generally vertical supports are rods. 
     
     
       6. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  wherein the first and second generally vertical pockets have an opening near the top. 
     
     
       7. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  wherein the first and second generally vertical pockets cover most of the generally vertical supports in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
       8. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  wherein the shell comprises ballistic nylon. 
     
     
       9. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  wherein at least one elastic band is coupled to at least one of the first and second generally vertical pockets. 
     
     
       10. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  wherein the first and second generally vertical pockets are angled relative to an edge portion of the shell. 
     
     
       11. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  wherein upper portions of the first and second generally vertical pockets are flared. 
     
     
       12. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  comprising a flap coupled near a top of the shell with fasteners on the flap and on the shell to enable the shield to be secured to an object. 
     
     
       13. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 4  comprising a hard armor plate configured to be coupled to the shell. 
     
     
       14. A ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers from bodily harm from projectiles comprising:
 a shell adapted to support at least one ballistic panel made from a ballistic material suitable for protecting a user from bodily injury from projectiles; 
 at least one generally horizontal support adapted to be coupled to the shell for providing support to the ballistic shield when the ballistic shield is in a deployed configuration; 
 first and second generally vertical supports adapted to be coupled to the shell for providing support to the ballistic shield when the ballistic shield is in a deployed configuration; 
 first and second generally vertical pockets for removably housing the first and second generally vertical supports coupled to the shell, the first and second generally vertical pockets cover a majority of the first and second generally vertical supports when housing the first and second generally vertical supports in a deployed configuration to provide a support structure for the ballistic shield to absorb energy from an impact of a projectile; and 
 a retainer cap coupled to the shield and configured to be positioned over an end of the at least one elongate generally horizontal support. 
 
     
     
       15. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 14  comprising a generally horizontal storage pocket adapted to store at least one of the first and second generally vertical supports when in a stored configuration. 
     
     
       16. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 14  wherein the shell has at least one small pocket near an edge portion of the shell adapted to receive an end of a pole for supporting the shield in an elevated position for a tactical maneuver. 
     
     
       17. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 14  comprising at least one handle coupled to the shell for arm carrying and holding the shield. 
     
     
       18. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 14  comprising a sling having a first end and a second end, each end of the sling adapted to be coupled to the shell by a quick release connection mechanism. 
     
     
       19. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 14  comprising a front side plate pocket coupled with the shell and adapted to support a hard armor plate to protect against higher powered projectiles. 
     
     
       20. The ballistic shield for protecting law enforcement officers of  claim 14  comprising a foldable shield portion coupled to a lower portion of the shell, the foldable shield portion being adapted to be folded up in a first deployed configuration to provide a shield of a first length, and the foldable shield portion being adapted to be unfolded in a second deployed configuration to provide a shield of a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.